John 6:45

The prophets. These words are evidently used in a technical sense to refer to the prophetic section of the Hebrew Bible, which was already so designated in Jesus’ day (see Luke 24:44; Acts 7:42; 13:40; Vol. I, p. 37; cf. the Prologue to Ecclesiasticus).

Be all taught. This quotation is taken from Isa. 54:13, but does not follow exactly either the traditional Hebrew text (reflected in KJV) or the LXX, which may be translated, “And all thy children [shall be] taught of God.” In the present passage it was probably adapted to fit the context.

Ancient Jewish interpreters understood this passage in Isaiah to be prophetic of the work of God in the day when the Messiah would come. They declared: “God said to Abraham: Thou hast taught thy children the Law in this world, but in the future world I will teach them the Law in my glory, as it says: And all thy sons shall be disciples of Jehovah” (from Tanchuma B, cited in Strack and Billerbeck, Kommentar zum Neuen Testament, vol. 4 p. 919). If such an understanding was current in Jesus’ time, His use of this scripture would seem to have had a Messianic implication to His hearers, and this makes clearer His conclusion that everyone who has learned of the Father comes to Him.

Of the Father. Literally, “from the Father.” This indicates that it is not merely hearing and learning about the Father that brings men to Christ, but that one hears from the Father the message He would have man know regarding the salvation that may be found in Jesus. The same expression appears in chs. 8:26, 40 in reference to the word preached by Jesus, which He had received from His Father, and in ch. 7:51 of a man’s testimony concerning himself. The word that God has spoken to the world in Jesus is indeed a testimony to His own love for man. The important truth is also taught here that hearing from God is insufficient if a man does not learn, that is, if he does not heed what he hears.